Kristensen in Race of Champions finale

Le Mans record winner beats Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher Timo Scheider to participate in snowmobile race in Austria Rahel Frey and Marcel Fässler also at book presentation in Switzerland

Audi factory driver Tom Kristensen bid farewell for the winter break after two strong showings at the Race of Champions.

It was a very strong performance: Audi driver Tom Kristensen beat both Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher at the Race of Champions in Düsseldorf and was only then beaten in the finale by new Volkswagen driver Sébastien Ogier. On Saturday the eight-time Le Mans winner had already taken second place in the Nations Cup. In contrast, three-time ROC winner Mattias Ekström suffered an early exit after being beaten in the group stages. Program announced: Anglo-American team United Autosports once again relies on the Audi R8 LMS in next year’s British GT Championship. This year, the team, owned by Zak Brown and Richard Dean, fought for the title all the way to the finale on the British Isles with the customer racing race car. The program in 2012 for one car in Great Britain is already confirmed. Like this season it is also planned that a second R8 LMS should compete. Award for Audi driver: at its Champions party on Saturday the Deutscher Motor Sport Bund honored the best drivers from a wide variety of motorsport disciplines. Audi factory driver Mattias Ekström visited the event held in the Steigenberger Airport Hotel in Frankfurt as DTM runner-up 2011. Formula 1 for winter: Timo Scheider’s enthusiasm is growing for the snowmobile race in Saalbach Hinterglemm. Numerous celebrities from show business, Formula 1 and other sports compete in the snowmobile race on December 9 and 10. The race track runs through the town center of the Austrian winter sports resort. Kart Masters with Audi drivers: this coming weekend Romain Dumas, Le Mans winner 2010 with Audi, and also Audi DTM driver Filipe Albuquerque contest the ERDF Kart Masters. A total of 17 international drivers from Formula 1, endurance racing and rally have already announced their participation in the electric kart race in Paris-Bercy. Gala evening with Oliver Jarvis: the British Audi factory driver is guest at the Autosport Awards in the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday. Many international motorsport personalities of distinction meet every year at the renowned event staged by the British specialist magazine. Journey to London: on Monday Audi factory driver Marcel Fässler visits the annual Awards Luncheon at the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC).Swiss compatriots: on Thursday Rahel Frey and Marcel Fässler attend a book presentation. The annuals title ‘Rennsport Schweiz’ by Stefan Lüscher is presented in the presence of the two Audi factory drivers in the premises of the Pilatus Flugzeugwerke in Stans.

A word from ... Tom KristensenYou were in the Nations Cup final and also in the Race of Champions final. Satisfied with the weekend? "Absolutely. I’m delighted to have made it onto the winners’ photo in both competitions. Sébastien Ogier is a worthy Champion; there is no doubt about this whatsoever. I was able to drive all the cars here in Düsseldorf. I particularly liked the Audi R8 LMS, which obviously is not only a force to be reckoned with in 24-hour races, but also is a lot of fun to drive in Stadium events." On one day you first beat Sebastian Vettel and then Michael Schumacher. How do you feel? "Obviously it’s a fantastic thing, which you don’t experience that often in your career as a racing driver. Now I’m looking forward to getting home: my youngest son Oswald is a huge Vettel fan and just had to have his autograph. I got his signature first and then beat him." Is the sporting ambition or fun element that predominates at the Race of Champions?"The combination of both makes this event so unique. It goes without saying that as race driver I want to win, but also I aim to have a great time with my many friends. Sometimes strange things happen: like all drivers I had a female passenger in the car when I raced against Vettel - however, mine talked and screamed all the time. I asked her to be a little quieter. But she merely answered she is live in television and should be working…" 


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